Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020
1161. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if the National Framework for Living with Covid-19 has a basis in statute or regulation or if it is purely advisory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32461/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn Tuesday 15 September the Government published ‘Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19’. This Plan outlines our medium-term strategy for COVID-19 and sets out a Framework of 5 Levels which outline the broad measures which will apply depending on the level of the virus at any given time. The Plan is designed to help everyone – individuals, organisations and sectors – to better understand, anticipate and prepare for the measures that might be introduced to contain transmission of the virus. The intention is that Departments and sectors will provide guidance for specific sectors and activities in line with the 5 level framework.
The public health advice relating to Covid-19 is kept under continuing review by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and it provides advice to Government in line with the current epidemiological position. Government then makes decisions about the measures which are to be put in place.
Various aspects of public health measures are provided for in regulations. These include the mandatory wearing of face coverings on public transport (SI 244), mandatory wearing of face coverings in certain retail outlets (SI 296) and various aspects of the public health restrictive measures outlined in the 5 Level Framework including restrictions on travel, events and gatherings, and the operation of certain businesses and services as has been the case since the beginning of the pandemic. Current level 5 regulations are set out in Statutory Instrument Nos. 448 and 449.
Statutory Instruments related to the Covid-19 pandemic are available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/1f150-view-statutory-instruments-related-to-the-covid-19-pandemic/
